Understanding heart and brain communication in Veterans with schizophrenia
Official title: Stressed heart-brain communication in Veterans with schizophrenia: neurovascular and autonomic mechanisms
Funded at Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco · NIH-11070338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the heart and brain work together in veterans with schizophrenia, a condition that can raise the risk of heart problems, to see if issues in brain function might affect heart health and thinking skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002457-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans diagnosed with schizophrenia who may also be experiencing cardiovascular issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those who do not have any cardiovascular concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the heart and brain communicate in veterans suffering from schizophrenia, a condition that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. By using advanced imaging techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the study aims to explore the relationship between brain activity and cardiovascular health. The research focuses on understanding how inefficiencies in brain function may be linked to heart health, potentially leading to cognitive deficits in these patients. The goal is to uncover the underlying mechanisms that contribute to both psychiatric and cardiovascular issues in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies that address both mental health and cardiovascular risks in veterans with schizophrenia.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been some research on the relationship between mental health and cardiovascular disease, this specific approach using fMRI to explore heart-brain communication in veterans with schizophrenia is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jacob, Michael — Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Jacob, Michael
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.